Magnolia Elementary opens fruit stand

Nicolas Rataczak and Claire Sabella wheel fresh strawberries to parents at Magnolia Elementary in Carlsbad on Friday afternoons to help raise money for school projects.
— Courtesy of Marilyn Campbell, the WRITE Touch Business Communications

Nicolas Rataczak and Claire Sabella wheel fresh strawberries to parents at Magnolia Elementary in Carlsbad on Friday afternoons to help raise money for school projects.
/ Courtesy of Marilyn Campbell, the WRITE Touch Business Communications

Students at Magnolia Elementary in Carlsbad are helping raise funds for school programs by selling freshly picked local strawberries.

Cara Ratajczak, a member of the school’s PTA board and parent of two Magnolia students, created the farmers market-like stand to sell strawberries from Carlsbad-based Aviara Farms. The strawberries are picked Friday mornings, packed into three-packs and sold that afternoon for $6.

Ratajczak’s children and other students help out at the stand from 2 to 3 p.m. at the school, 1905 Magnolia Ave., Carlsbad. Kindergarteners who are released from school earlier in the day also help by pulling a wagon filled with strawberries to parents waiting to pick up their children.

The stand took in $171 and sold out in 40 minutes in its May 3 debut, and Ratajczak since has bought a higher volume to sell at the stand.

Ratajczak said the PTA will use proceeds from the stand to benefit school programs, including a fruit, vegetable, herb and sunflower garden that will be dedicated May 31.

Strawberry sales at the school will continue each Friday from 2 to 3 p.m. until the end of the month.